Think of it as political remarriage, one that involves the commingling of two complex estates and a November wedding that requires detailed planning. As the big day approaches, future plans are being discussed. What doesn't appear to be on the table is any premarital sharing of bank accounts.

And so it is with the state Senate Democrats and the Independent Democratic Conference, set to reunite as a new coalition after four years apart. While both sit on millions of dollars in cash that could help them collectively win a majority in the chamber and close down the Republican Party's last bastion of statewide power, it appears that overall Democratic Party unity could be more significant in getting out the vote than any pooling of Senate Democratic resources.

The Senate Democrats reported Tuesday just more than $1 million in their war chest, a turnaround from the past few years of debt. With their ranks down to 24 members, that cool million in cash has left Democratic Senate Campaign Committee Chairman Sen. Mike Gianaris feeling optimistic.

"The real question is, what does $1 million at this point in the cycle mean? We still have several months to go of aggressive fundraising that's going to add to that," Gianaris said, adding that Democrats are now nearly $2 million ahead of the debt they had in the last election cycle while Republicans are off the pace from their 2012 numbers. "And in 2012 we won every single race where we were in competition," he said.

The pending reunion with the IDC would appear to make available more than $2 million in pooled resources between the Democrats' campaign committee and the IDC's political action committee. But the math is more complicated than simple addition: Because it is a PAC, "The IDC Initiative" is limited to donating only $10,300 at a time for the general election.

Sharing funds of such relatively low sums may not be enough to make a dent in the marginal turnout needed to shift the vote in swing districts. Republicans boast nearly $4 million in their main account; on average, GOP members are sitting on roughly $400,000 more than their colleagues across the aisle.

While the IDC is handcuffed in the amount it can donate to candidates or the DSCC, it could spend on other useful tools in far higher increments. It could, for example, pay for polling on key issues to see where voters stand in swing districts.

There's also a matter of how wounds from the breakup might keep the two from making their cash too cozy.

"They're still probably working on building the trust factor between the two of them," said political consultant Bruce Gyory. "Working together on this could either enhance that trust factor or break it down. You don't know."

Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said this week that she and Klein have spoken about adding to the number of progressive voices currently in the Senate. The Democrats and the IDC have both backed down on their support for challengers to incumbents from the other conference.

How exactly Republicans will spend their money is a matter of secret strategy.

Among the most competitive battlegrounds in the war for control of the Senate is Long Island, where two open seats are seen as up for grabs. Republicans have long held a tight grip on the suburbs of Nassau and Suffolk counties. But with Charles Fuschillo's departure on the final day of 2013 and Lee Zeldin running for Congress, some say that grip could be loosening.

Extra money could become more important in those races, as well as additional toss-ups involving incumbent Republicans (Sen. Jack Martins' 7th District seat has repeatedly been labeled as one that could flip), though candidates will more importantly need to remain advocates for their voting base.

"If the Democrats — mainline or IDC — want to win, they've got to invest in these communities," Levy said of suburban bastions like Brookhaven and Islip, "then let the local candidates run on the issues they feel matter."

A massive infusion of Democratic money could backfire, though: Republicans have repeatedly blasted New York City Democrats as the ones who would control the majority-to-be. In a statement following the announcement by longtime Republican Sen. George Maziarz that he wouldn't run again, Skelos said "the last thing hardworking taxpayers want is an all-Democrat, all-New York City-run state government free to push their liberal tax-and-spend agenda on the people of New York."

Levy said the challenge for candidates is fighting the feeling from both Republicans and Democrats alike on the island that if elected, Democrats will just be controlled by the New York City powers.

Regardless of where the money comes from, spending by the party as a whole on a coordinated attack by all Democrats, not just those in the Senate, may be the key to claiming a majority of the kingdom.

"The more people we have pulling in the same direction, the more successful we will be," Gianaris said. "That's why the unprecedented amalgam of supporters we have is increasing our momentum. It's not just the governor, not just the IDC, not just our conference, but it's also all of the major labor leaders throughout the state making a Democratic Senate their priority this year ... There are dozens of labor organizations that are also putting wind in our sails as we try to organize a successful campaign season."

"It's not just money," Gyory said. " ... Who has the best field operation to both drive the message and then get out the vote?"